Locking device for the drawbar coupler keys of railroad draft gears



March 8, 1949. H. N. JUEL ET AL LOCKING DEVICE FOR THE DRAWBAR COUPLER KEYS OF RAILROAD DRAFT GEARS Filed April 8, 1947 'lll n- INVENTORS. 32 HARRY N Jt/A'L. 25 1 JOHN A. Sermozazn.

r BY ANDRA'WUEOWL'N.

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Patented Mar. 8, 1949 LOCKING DEVICE FOR THE DRAWBAB COU- PIIEB KEYS OF RAILROAD DRAFT GEARS Harry N. Juel, John A. Schroeder, and Andrew W. Bower, Denver, Colo.

Application April 8, 1947, Serial No. 742,084

This invention relates to a locking device for the draw bar coupler keys of railroad draft gears. Many railroad accidents are caused by the coupler keys working loose from the draw bars of railroad cars. Many fastening devices have been used to retain the coupler keys in place. None of these have been permanently satisfactory, due to the fact that they shear or wear away and drop from the coupler keys.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a fastening or locking coupler keys which will insure the latter remaining in place permanently.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device which will still retain the coupler key in place even though parts of the fastening device have become broken or lost.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efllciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, illustrating a typical railroad draw bar and coupler key with the invention in place thereon;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detail, perspective views of various elements employed in the improved locking device;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section, taken on the line 5-5, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 61s a bottom view of the device.

In Fig. 1 a conventional draw bar is illustrated at ID with its coupler at H and coupler key at l2. The invention is designed to prevent the coupler key l2 from withdrawing from the draw bar Ill.

The improved locking device comprises an elongated, somewhat rectangular sleeve I! of a size and shape to fit over the extremity of the key l2. The sleeve I3 is held in place by means of a locking pin II, which in turn is locked in place by means of a retainer key l5.

The opening in the sleeve I! has a height equal to the thickness of the coupler key l2, plus the thickness of the retainer key It. The top of this opening is provided with an elongated indentation It designed to receive an elongated head I! formed on the pin H. The bottom of the opening in the sleeve i2 contains a notch l8 opening to the front face of the sleeve and designed to receive the shank of the pin ll.

Two keyholes I! and 2| are formed in the sides of the sleeve I8 at the bottom thereof for receiving the retainer key I. The pin I4 is notched across its forward face, as shown at 2|. for the device for the passage of the key I. The key I! is provided with an upturned head 22 at one extremity, and with a thin, bendable end 23 at its other extremity.

A vertical hole 24 is drilled through the coupler key l2 to receive the pin II. The locking device is installed by dropping the pin ll into the opening 24, then passing the sleeve l3 thereover. Since the opening in the sleeve has a greater height than the thickness of the key l2, the sleeve may be raised on the key to allow it to be passed over the head ll of the pin ll while the shank of the pin ll moves into the receiving notch l8.

When the sleeve is in place over the pin, the former drops into contact with the key l2, with the head I! of the pin resting in the receiving socket It. The retainer key I! is now driven through the keyhole l9 beneath the coupler key l2, through the notch 2| in the pin l4, and through the opposite keyhole 20. The bendable end 23 of the key I! is then bent downward y and inwardly.

The keyhole 20 is opened through the bottom of the sleeve l3 to allow the key to bend downwardly at this point without projecting beyond the side of the sleeve [3, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be noted that this permanently and securely locks the coupler key [2 in place. Outward movement of the sleeve I2 is resisted at the top by the head l1, and at the bottom by the retainer key l5, which bears against the pin ll. There is practically no strain or wear upon the retainer key l5. However, should this key, through defects in manufacture or for some other reason, become displaced, the sleeve I! will still retain its position on the coupler key l2, due to the embedment of the head II in the socket l5. Therefore, a double safety feature is provided by the improved locking device.

It will be noted that the head I1 is non-circular, and that the socket i6 has a similar non-circular contour. This is for the purpose of automatically aligning the notch 2| in the pin it with the path of the key I5.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that thesame may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims. :vithout departing from the spirit of the invenion. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A locking device for the coupler keys of railroad draw bars comprising: a sleeve adapted to receive and surround the extremity of a horizontal coupler key; a retaining pin passing vertically through said key within said sleeve, said sleeve having an internal socket for receiving the head of said pin; and a retainer key passing horizontally through said sleeve below said coupler key and transversally oi the latter. said retainer key engaging a notch in the side of said pin and acting to prevent upward movement of'said sleeve so as to retain said head in said socket.

2. A locking device for the coupler keys of railroad draw bars comprising: a sleeve adapted to receive and surround the extremity of a horizontal coupler key; a retaining pin passing vertically through said key within said sleeve, said sleeve having an internal socket for receiving the head of said pin; a retainer key passing horizontally through said sleeve below said coupler key and transversally oi the latter, said retainer key engaging a notch in the side of said pin and acting to prevent upward movement of said sleeve so as to retain said head in said socket; and a bent extremity on said retainer key for retaining the latter in place.

3. A locking device for the coupler keys of railroad draw bars comprising: a T-headed pin passing vertically through said coupler key; a sleeve surrounding said coupler key and said pin, said sleeve having an internal indentation receiving the T-head of said pin; and a retainer key passing through the sides or said sleeve and between said coupler key and said sleeve to retain said head in said indentation.

4. Alocking device for the coupler keys of railroad draw bars comprising: a l'-headed pin passing vertically through said coupler key; a sleeve surrounding said coupler key and said pin, said sleeve having an internal indentation receiving the T-head of said pin; a retainer key passing through the sides of said sleeve and between saidsleeve having an internal indentation receiving the T-head of said pin; a retainer key passing through the sides of said sleeve and beneath said coupler key to retain said head in said indentation, said pin having a notch for the passage 0! said retainer key; a head on one extremity of said retainer key; and a bent end on the other extremity of said key, locking the latter in place, said sleeve being notched for the reception or said bent end.

HARRY N. JUEL. JOHN A. SCI-IROEDER. ANDREW W. BOWER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oi this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,194,426 Richey Aug. 15, 1916 1,645,817 Nystrom Oct. 18, 1927 

